BOSTON (CBS) – Boston Bruins color analyst Bob Beers took some time out of his day to join 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Gresh and Zolak before the black and gold’s first playoff game.

The conversation started with Beers pointing out that the long layoff that fans have bemoaned has probably helped the Bruins, as they’re nursing a few injuries and the flu has been tearing through their locker room. Beers was quick to point out that there would be no sympathy around the league for this though, as everyone is enduring something at this time of year.

The talk shifted to tonight’s lineup, especially the expected absence of Chris Kelly and Daniel Paille. Beers believes the two will be replaced by Jordan Caron and relatively unknown Justin Florek, who has only played in 4 NHL games.

Gresh was quick to ask, “Why wouldn’t we be seeing Ryan Spooner?”

Beers explained that Spooner is one-dimensional in his forward position, and can only play center. Caron will be filling in on the fourth line, and that leaves a third-line spot open.

The team will probably elect to use Florek instead of Spooner because he can play wing, and the Bruins are reluctant to move Carl Soderberg out of his center position because he’s been playing exceptionally well there. They’re looking to keep it simple, and to try to simulate Kelly rather than to moving everything around.

From there they moved on to discussing the game plan, what the Bruins need to do to win, and the possible defensive pairings for tonight.

Then the talk turned to Jarome Iginla, who will be appearing in his first playoff game as a Bruin. Beers was excited for it, saying, “He can be a real difference maker… even when he’s not scoring he competes, he so competes hard. His intensity level is up, and I think it brings other players around him up. I think it helps to make other people around him better when he sees the way he plays.”

Beers classified Iginla as “hungry,” and added that he has been elevating David Krejci and Milan Lucic’s games this season regardless of the scoresheet. Zolak pointed out that Lucic hasn’t slumped at all this season as he’s been known to in the past, and Beers credited that to the consistency that the veteran Iginla has brought to his line.

Other topics they covered included the Bruins fourth line, Detroit’s injuries, the wizardry of Pavel Datsyuk and more.